Santa's Secret

by Heidi McLaughlin

  Right now, I’m parked inconspicuously on the outskirts of town, drinking warm coffee and listening to the chatter from the police scanner. Burlington is dealing with a drug bust, fire, and burglary, while I’m hiding in the bushes at the speed zone sign, waiting to catch someone with a lead foot.

  I aspired to work for a bigger force, but when you have a family, you tend to make sacrifices, and when Heather… well, being a single parent really keeps you grounded. You’re no longer making decisions for yourself, but also for your child and what they need. Their needs always come first.

  My radar gun points at the oncoming traffic, calculating the speed of the people driving into town. Most of them are tourists, coming to check out our quaint little town and the massive amount of decorations our mayor insists we put up. Honestly, though, I like them. They help me get into the spirit for the most part and they make Holly smile. Seeing Holly smile can really change my outlook sometimes.

  I laugh when vehicles suddenly change their speed. It never fails. They ignore the change of speed warning and partially slow down after the speed has changed. Most of them do, except for this car coming toward me. Not only is the speed excessive, but also they’re talking on their cell phone, which is against the law.

  My adrenaline pounds as I flip the switch for my light bar, opting to keep my sirens off. I don’t like to use them because it strikes curiosity in the neighbors, and more often than not, they’ll come outside to be nosy. It’s like getting a gold medal if you’re the one to start the rumor mill in town. Unbelievably, women vie for this position, driving us men crazy.

  Pulling out onto the two-lane highway, I press the accelerator, mostly because I can, to get behind the offending car. I radio in the license plate and hold my position until the driver pulls over.

  Finally, the driver signals to pull over and I do the same, slanting my SUV a little to avoid being hit by oncoming traffic.

  “It’s registered to a rental agency. Hold, and I’ll have a name for you.”

  “Thanks, Eileen. They’ve stopped, so I’m going to go have a chat.”

  “Roger that.”

  Every step I take toward the car is methodical. I’m checking for anything suspicious, listening for any odd sounds coming from the trunk or seeing if there’s any recent damage done to the car, considering they were speeding away from something.

  I tap on the window and lean down. The piercing green eyes of the woman in the driver’s seat knock the wind right out of my sail. These are orbs I would know anywhere, yet I haven’t seen them in ten plus years, not since our high school graduation. She smiles, and the simple act increases my adrenaline rush. For a moment, I feel like I’m a grasping for air.

  “Fish, is that you?”

  I take a step back, looking up and down the road, waiting for my colleagues to come out of the bushes to tell me they’re playing some sort of practical joke on me because none of this makes sense. Why would Ramona Falls’ biggest celebrity speed through town?

  That’s when it hits me, like a ton of concrete blocks. Not only have I pulled over the town sweetheart, but I’m going to be public enemy number one for doing so.

  Placing my hands on her door, I lean in, trying not to stare at her out of fear I might fumble my words. “Laney?”

  “Yeah. Don’t you recognize me? I know it’s been—”

  “About ten years,” I inject. I think every teenage boy in Ramona cried when she packed her bags and left for Hollywood. Each of us had aspirations of marrying her. Of course, I have the dubious title of saying I’ve dated her, even if it were only for a few months. Back then it felt like an eternity.

  “Of course I do. I’m just a little taken back by seeing ya. What’re doing here?”

  “I’m home for Christmas,” she says, holding her hands up as if it’s no big deal. It’s a huge deal. Massive, really. Once word spreads, people from all over will flock to our little town, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Not to mention, the mayor will likely have us increase our police presence to protect her, which means overtime.

  “Well, it’s really good to see you. I bet your parents are happy to have you home.” As soon as the words come out of my mouth, I realize I should’ve known she was coming back. It’s not possible her mother kept this a secret. If you want to know anything about everything, Astrid Du Luca can tell you. “I’m surprised I hadn’t heard you were coming back.”

  “Spur of the moment. The mill probably hasn’t reached you yet.”

  I nod in agreement. “I’m gonna need your license and your rental information, Laney.”

  “What?”

  I run my hand over my beanie, moving it back and forth until it’s in a comfortable place. “You were speeding and talking on your cell phone. I gotta call it in.”

  Laney rolls her eyes before she starts rummaging through her bag. She’s mumbling something, and from what I can gather by her hand flailing about, it’s not pleasant. Her hand juts out the window with a small stack of documents. I take them and thank her as I head back to my patrol car.

  As soon as I type her name into the Spillman database, her most current picture from The Department of Motor Vehicles pops up and I find myself once against staring, getting lost in her auburn hair and remembering the time I tried to count the freckles on her cheeks and nose. We may have dated for a few months, but have been friends our entire lives.

  “Base to 8 2 4.”

  “Go ahead,” I radio back.

  “For all things holy, please tell me you did not pull over Delaney Du Luca,” Eileen screeches into the radio.

  “You pulled over my sister?” Dominic chimes in before I can even respond to Eileen.

  “Fisher, I’m not sure I hear this correctly. Did you pull over the woman who put Ramona Falls on the map?” our chief asks next.

  I rest my head against my steering wheel and count to ten. “Why did it have to be me?” I ask my empty car while my co-workers continue to squawk at me through the radio. When they finally grow silent, I reach for my handheld and press the button.

  “She was speeding and talking on her phone.”

  Apparently, it doesn’t matter, according to the chief. He’s yelling into the radio, and anytime he takes a break, either Dom or Eileen start in on me. With my tail between my legs, I get out of the car and walk back to Laney. I tap on her window again and motion for her to roll it down.

  “Here ya go, Laney.”

  “No ticket?”

  I shake my head. She doesn’t need to know I’d likely lose my job if I gave her one. Okay, that’s may be a bit far-fetched, but I will suffer years of verbal attacks because no one forgets anything here. “Look, I know you haven’t been home for a while, but we’re handsfree here so just watch yourself when you leave town.”

  “Thanks, Fish. I really appreciate it.”

  With what redeeming quality I have left, I go back to my car. The standard procedure tells me I need to radio in and clear the scene, but I can’t stomach the ridicule. It’s bad enough I have to face my peers when I get back to the station.

  As luck would have it, I follow behind Laney’s car, and being the law-abiding citizen she is, she goes under the speed limit. I’m tempted to go by her, but Chief is big on us setting an example for the youth in the community. Still, when I signal to turn, I honk and wave at her, hoping she’s not too upset with me.

  Growing up in a small town, you’re afforded certain liberties. Knowing the local police unit is one of them, even if they live in another town. For the most part, the members of the force have usually been our neighbors. For Dominic and Delaney, their father became mayor while we were in high school, and while Laney didn’t do anything wrong, Dom tested the limits many times. I was right there along the side of him too, always trying to see how far we could go before someone busted us.

  My cell phone rings. It sits on my dash so I can see who’s calling. A picture of my mother flashes at me, and I press the green button and hit speaker so we can talk.


  “Rough day?” she asks.

  “Word spreads fast.” I sigh.

  “It’s Ramona Falls.”

  “I know. Sadly, there isn’t anything I can do about it. I was doing my job.”

  “I know. Do you want to come for lunch? Holly is about to go down and eat now.”

  The thought of spending some time with Holly brings a smile to my face. “I’ll be right there.” I hang up, and this time I do exceed the speed limit so I can get to the school in time.

  My mom is waiting for me as soon as I pull up. She motions me to follow her in, even though I know where I’m going. A few kids say hi, and a couple of teachers scowl. Perfect. I’m going to go down in Falls history as the officer who pulled over Delaney Du Luca. Never mind the fact she was breaking the law.

  The cafeteria is bustling with students. Mom and I get in line behind a class and wait for the staff to put our lunch onto a plate. It’s some version of a turkey dinner, not that I mind. I actually enjoy the mashed potatoes.

  “Holly’s this way. She’ll be excited to see you.”

  I’m glad my mom thinks so. Every day I sense a change in her. Holly was forced to mature to levels her friends aren't at yet. She's going to want more independence soon, and I’m not even close to the stage where I’m ready to let go. She’s seven, not ten or fifteen. I still have time to be her daddy and not the man she’s pissed at because she can’t go out on a date. Yes, I will be the father who investigates who his daughter is dating.

  “Hi, Grandma,” Holly says as soon as my mom sits across from her. Holly’s head turns slowly at my looming statue.

  I smile and set my tray down.

  “You can’t sit here,” she says so matter-of-factly that I pick the tray back up.

  “Why not?” I ask as if I’m the new kid in school trying to sit at the popular table. I look from Holly to my mom, who shakes her head and closes her eyes briefly.

  “Because you arrested Delaney Du Luca, Dad! Who does that? Are you trying to make it so I don’t have any friends? Huh?” Holly throws her hands up in the air in the most overly dramatic fashion I have ever seen.

  I look back at my mom for help. She doesn’t offer any but does move over so I can sit next to her. I don’t want to make a scene, but Holly needs to know she can’t speak to me this way. After sitting down, I lean close to her, hoping she can hear me clearly, and that other eavesdropping ears aren’t listening.

  “It’s my job to keep the streets of Ramona Falls safe, and if that means pulling someone over for breaking the law, I’m going to do it. It doesn’t matter who it is. The law’s the law, Holly.”

  Sitting back, I start to think I’ve done a fairly decent job until I see the look on Holly’s face, followed by tears. “Daddy, she’s my favorite, and you’ve ruined everything.” She storms off, leaving her lunch untouched. My mom quickly follows, leaving me at a table with ten other seven-year-olds.

  “Hey,” I say, waving, but they’re throwing daggers at me. “Right. I’ll just eat my lunch then.” This is likely the last meal I’ll ever eat. I expect my lynching to happen by dinnertime, all because our town sweetheart had to break the law.

  Five

  Delaney

  Under the potted plant, my parents still hide the key to their house. I slide it into the lock, turn and press down on the trigger to open the door. The smell of freshly baked cookies, cinnamon and the overall feeling of warmth washes over me. I close my eyes and inhale deeply, letting the stress of Hollywood leave me. It’s good to be home.

  I set my bags down in the entryway and take in the decorations. Garland and white lights wrap the staircase, with red bows scattered throughout. I’m eager to see our Christmas tree. When my parents had our family room remodeled, it became one of my favorites of the house, especially during the holidays. My mom always took decorating to a whole new level.

  When I step into the kitchen, I’m surprised to find my mother… well, the backside of my mom because she’s bent over with her head in the oven. I hadn’t thought she’d be here, and the now fresh cookies I smelled when I walked in make sense. I wait until she pulls herself out before I alert her to my presence. She sits back on her heels, with black gunk all over her gloved hands.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  “Delaney!” she screeches. She stands and walks toward me. I want to hug her, but the thought of getting dirty doesn’t sit well with me. “Let me clean up. I wasn’t expecting you for another hour or so.”

  “I thought I texted you my flight times.” On the counter the cookies are calling my name. I grab one and bite into it. It’s still warm, making the chocolate gooey. “So good,” I mumble in between bites.

  “You did, but I still get confused on the time zones. Now give me some sugar,” she says once her hands are clean. I stuff the rest of the cookie into my mouth before falling into her arms. Unsuspectingly, tears start to fall as I bury my face in my mom’s shoulder. I shouldn’t cry over Trey, but I can’t help the ache I feel in my heart. For a brief moment, I thought he was the one. I never thought he was having an affair or suspected him of being the type of man to do so. Now I wonder if I was his side-chick or a publicity stunt. I have a feeling it’s the latter. It’s a known fact in the industry that some people use others to advance their careers.

  My mom continues to hold me, much like she’s done time and time again, through the bumps and bruises, and other heartaches I’ve experienced over the years. I know it was only six months, but still. Knowing I didn’t mean anything to him hurts.

  I’m the first one to pull away. Mom runs her hands up and down my shoulders and offers me a soft smile. “You gonna be okay?” she asks.

  I nod. “I am. I’m shocked and mad that I didn’t know or figure it out. Even thinking about him now, and his actions… I don’t know. I didn’t see him like this.” I shrug and go back to the cookies. My mom hands me a plate, which I pile them on to. I go to the kitchen table and stare out the back window. “How come you don’t have a tree yet?”

  “Your dad has been busy and with neither you nor Dom living at home, it’s hard to get into the spirit sometimes.”

  There’s a deer traipsing through my parents’ backyard, her hooves leaving indents in the snow. I watch as she heads to a bale of hay that my dad makes sure the animals have to eat during the winter.

  “I’ve missed this,” I say, motioning toward the yard. “Everything in Los Angeles is concrete. Sure, we have parks, but the houses and buildings are on top of each other. There’s no space. No freedom.”

  “Are you talking about freedom from the press?” Mom asks from behind me. I turn to see her setting a glass of milk down onto the table. I smile and pull the chair out so I can sit down.

  “Simplicity. The ability to breathe. I don’t know. I can’t explain it. As soon as I stepped outside, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulder. And yeah, the lack of paparazzi is a plus.”

  “Do they bother you much?”

  I shrug and pick up another cookie, dunking it into my milk. “They do and don’t. Obviously now, I’m a headline. The scorned girlfriend or the blind one who didn’t know her boyfriend was cheating on her.” I take another bite and chew.

  “And now you’re home, you’re local news.”

  I look at her oddly. “What are you talking about?”

  My mom smiles and starts laughing. “You were pulled over by Aiden Fisher for speeding.”

  “How do you even know that?”

  She shrugs, as if it’s no big deal. “Everyone knows.”

  I roll my eyes and shake my head. “Town gossip. I’m surprised you don’t have a blog yet to keep everyone updated. You know you could probably do text alerts or something, save everyone time from playing telephone.”

  Mom laughs, but it’s the truth. Astrid Du Luca is worse than the National Enquirer. “How was it seeing Aiden?”

  “Fine. Why?”

  “He’s had a rough go of it lately.”

  “His wife has cancer, right?” I a
sk.

  Mom shakes her head. “Had cancer, she died. Let’s see, I think it’s been a year and half now, maybe even two years. All I know is he’s been struggling financially since Heather died. His insurance only covered so much of her medical expenses.”

  “That’s so sad. They have a son, right?”

  “Daughter. Holly, she’s seven. He’s such a good dad.”

  Aiden Fisher and I dated in high school. It was a few months, but my brother teased us so relentlessly that we decided to end it. They were friends and apparently, Dominic thought we were crossing some imaginary line. It was after I left for Hollywood, that he started dating Heather.

  Mom’s words weigh heavily on me. I can’t imagine loving someone so much you devote your life to them, only to have them die, and at such a young age too. Maybe it’s a good thing Trey did this to me before I was fully invested and ended up with a broken heart.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  I shake my head. “Nothing, really.”

  “I remember when you dated Aiden. Your dad and I thought for sure you would’ve married him.”

  My eyes meet hers, and she shrugs. “Why do you say that?”

  “It was the way he looked at you, even before you both decided to start dating.”

  I try to think back to high school. I knew I wanted to move to Hollywood and act. It was my passion from the time I started in local theater. Everyone knew once I graduated, I was gone. My parents hated the idea. I promised them that if after one year I hadn’t landed a major role, I’d come home. It took me six months, and I haven’t looked back since. Picturing Fish when we dated is hard. It’s been so long since I’ve thought about him. It’s not like he’s the one that got away or anything. We were friends because of my brother. We dated and ended it amicably, and stayed friends, although we didn’t stay in touch with each other. The only one I really spoke to after leaving, aside from my family, is Mindy.

  “I guess I don’t remember.”

  “It was a long time ago.”

  It was, but it wasn’t. Ten years isn’t really that long ago. I should be able to recall how Aiden looked at me, but I guess I was lost in my own little world. “I think I’m going to go get settled.”